4/7 I have a friend who recently started a blog posting about
legal issues (he was a lawyer who was laid off). I'm not sure why
he started this blog, but it's likely something he can show off
to potential future employers. Anyway, he keeps sending emails
whenever he's added another entry (approx once a week). Is there
any netiquette about mass emailings to tell friends/relatives
about new blog posts? Or can one do whatever? Thanks.
\_ If people followed netiquette, there would be no spam. Why don't
you tell him that you'd prefer to subscribe to his RSS feed instead
of getting weekly emails from him.
\- Is it Bob Loblaw's Law Blog?

12/9 Does anyone know of a good blogging software that can
handle blogging entries as well as photo albums?
Wordpress and the WP Gallery plugin is too tricky to
configure easily. And please don't mention Facebook!
\_ Why not just use Blogger and Flickr/Picasa or whatever? -tom
\_ I'd prefer a stand-alone platform/software that
I can use on my own domain, in particular so
that every page (blog and albums) will have the
same theme. thanks. -op
\_ cuz they're run by evil companies. UNIX + pine!

6/29 Apparently Obama fascists are reporting blogs that aren't flattering as
spam. Google is too lazy or complicit to tell the difference.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/3foxms [blogspot]
\_ Obama "fascists?"
\_ Yes. Most likely fans of Obama, who are trying to shut down
anyone who doesn't agree with them. They're not gov't agents,
just lefty nutters.
\_ How many people would have to be involved in this to
qualify as anything more than kookiness?
\_ I see this as more of a problem with Google than the kooks.
I doubt anyone officially connected to Obama is doing this,
but why is Google allowing it? -op
\_ Great question. Did the blogger contact Google directly
about this?
\_ "The three blogs who were locked up today didn't fare
so well. Blogger has locked them out from posting at
all until they are "reviewed". I would like to think
that someone working for blogger is not involved
here, but I can attest that their "reviews" aren't
happening. Hopefully they are just bogged down. I
would like to think that way."
\_ But it would make her blog so much more signifi-
cant if blogger were somehow involved, so there
go the insinuations.
\_ Good job self-Godwin'ing. Please go away.
\_ Fascists? "I do not think it means what you think it means."

12/7 What's a good blog site for anonymous people to rant and spill
beans on their company? -disgruntled x employee
\_ http://fuckedcompany.com used to be good for that...
\_ No longer exists.
\_ Where do the ex-employees of http://fuckedcompany.com post?
\_ Ha ha! http://www.doublepenetration.com
\_ I hate to knowingly support a Guy Kawasaki venture, but truemors?
Not completely sure on the spelling either, obGoogle. -dans
\_ vallywag? Not exactly anonymous, since you would have to talk
\_ valleywag? Not exactly anonymous, since you would have to talk
to a reporter, but if your stuff is interesting, they will run it.
\_ You don't have to 'talk to a reporter'. Make up a bunch of shit
and instant message Owen, he'll probably print it.
\_ How do I IM Owen? -op
\_ What is Owen if not a reporter?
\_ Spill it on the motd.

7/31 flickr only lets me create 3 sets before charging. I don't use
Blogspot because the site is pretty annoying. What other
sites are good?
\_ link:www.picasaweb.google.com
\_ If you install Picasa, this is clearly the easiest thing I've
ever seen. The difference is like AOL mail and gmail, where
flickr and blogspot are as complicated and unintuitive as
AOL mail and Picasa is as easy to use and understand as
gmail. Although this is only a beta site, it clearly has
all the Google signatures on it.
\_ Windows-only can bite me. -tom
\_ It can be web-only accessible just like any other web sites
although you'll lose some advanced features. For example if
you use Picasa it'll automatically resize pictures for you
before it uploads to the web sites. Most pictures today are
taken using 4-7MP and take a long time to do HTTP upload
raw. It took me 6 hours to teach my grandma to use flickr
(they use lame terminologies like sets, and organizing and
other features are really complicated). But it only took her
30 min to learn Picasaweb.
\_ http://picasa.google.com/linux
\_ They need an OS X version to replace that POS iPhoto.
Plus there's F-Spot (http://f-spot.org/Main_Page which is
totally open-source if you still like flickr. F-Spot can
also export webpages so that the below suggestion
(~/public_html) is easy enough. --michener
\_ http://www.csua.berkeley.edu
\_ http://www.jenniferwalcott.com -proud American

5/20 Can someone summarize the pros and cons for the following blogging
services: xanga, blogger, and LJ.
\_ Blogger is owned by google, so it gets visited by their spiders
frequently.
\_ I used to keep up a Blogger account, but the problem is that
they're not as popular or widely used. And they're pretty
featureless. I've recently been using my LJ a lot -- partly
because all my friends have one and can thus comment, and
partly because it's actually pretty respectable, if you ignore
the emo population --michener
\_ I also just installed charm on soda, which is a nice little
console LJ util written in python. One of the best things is
you can pipe straight into it, if you get the options right.
--michener
\_ What about myspace?
\_ Turn away! Turn away! The power of Christ compels you!
--michener
\_ Slloooooooowwwww....

4/27 This is a pretty hilarious (apparently genuine) rant by a
sociology prof. Spot the hypocrisy!
http://drmandrake.blog-city.com/i_hate_my_students.htm
\_ Haha, I love that guy.
\_ He took down the blog. Anyone have a mirror?
Nevermind, Google cache FTW: http://tinyurl.com/pfg8z
\_ he has many grammar errors. -tom
\_ so? it's a blog.
\_ He didn't have "many"... I saw a couple typos and yeah,
it's a blog.
\_ He had many. The worst was "low and behold." And
if you're on a grammar rant, you'd better be accurate
yourself. -tom
\_ Well I think that may also be a typo or at any rate
not strictly grammar. The guy is still a jackass
though.
\_ Tom's "he has many grammar errors" was satire.
That said, grammar is "right use and rules of
language". Mistaken phraseology can definitely
fall under "bad grammar".
\_ I don't think it can be considered a typo if it
was intentional.
\_ If you are typing quickly it's possible to make
mistakes like that even if you are aware it
is wrong. (since it sounds the same.) That said
maybe it was intentional. I still wouldn't call
that grammar. It's kind of like the toe/tow the
line thing where people don't really know
what it means. I guess a diction issue.
\_ Toe/tow the line isn't a typo. I think
it's closer to 'ignorance' or simply
'wrong'. If your point is that we can't
be sure based on limited data -- then, sure.
But folding ignorance and spelling
errors under the general heading 'typo' in
*this* context invites this sort of
pointless semantic 'dialogue'.
\_ He upbraids his students for confusing
"than" and "then," which is a very similar
error. -tom
\_ He is not upbraiding them as he never
voices that to them. He mocks them to
other people. Tom, you have used the
word incorrectly! You should be more
careful on the MotD!
\_ You're officially an imbecile.

3/23 Ickiest Flickr set ever
http://www.flickr.com/photos/90495823@N00/sets/72057594066067989
\_ Ick factor is high. Thanks for the warning, ass.
\_ Hard to tell for sure what some of them are - is there a list
anywhere? Guesses from people?
\_ Dude says "micro photos". Microscopic photos of his skin?
\_ certainly microscopic photos of the body, just trying
to figure out which specific parts each are, and whether
this set is educational or pornographic.

9/16 http://community.webshots.com/photo/371810784/371842361MVyjje
me again
\_ Are you actually going through webshots looking for this stuff,
or are you getting it off that blog?
\_ once again: eww.
\_ I'm sure your virtual girlfriend is much hotter.
\_ once again: you're high.
\_ Sorry, breasts the size of a woman's head don't do it for me.

7/16 When putting a link on your blog to another blog, can you just
hardwire it in, or is there some service or something to use
(one that keeps track of blog-blog links)? I know this doesn't
make too much sense, but I keep seeing "Blogroll" on people's
blogs and I'm wondering what this is. Thanks.
\_ wouldn't "blogroll" in google save us all the time? -nonblogger

4/20 Question about Internet libel: I have a bitchy pissed-off (ex)friend
who has decided to make it her life's work to get back at me. She
routinely posts crap on her blog about me, but today she actually
posted my full name with her lies. I did some searches on Google
for recent legislation/rulings about Internet libel and found
nothing but opinions about how things should be. Does anyone know
the current state of whether blog postings count as libel? And
additionally, any suggestions on getting her to stop (and change her
recent blog post to not include my name) without having to actually
resort to legal action?
-jvarga
\_ This doesn't answer your question but it's related. A friend of
mine googled his own name, and found some chick's blog talking about
"stalking [my friends full name]" which described her going around
to various places where he works or hangs out to try to stalk him.
Amusing but harmless.
\_ I just googled for your name and couldn't find anything...
\_ The crawlers havn't hit it yet. A friend who routinely monitors
her blog tipped me off to it. The post was made this morning.
- jvarga
\_ What, no link?
\_ There is not really any way to stop someone from doing something
like this, short of legal action. Even if you go to court, all
you can probably get is a monetary judgement. You *can* sue for
libel, but it is expensive. Is this an ex? You are probably
better off just trying to get some emotional distance from this
and think about legal action later, when you are not so heated
about it. -ausman
libel, but it is expensive and time consuming. Is this an ex-gf?
You are probably better off just trying to get some emotional
distance from this and think about what you want to do about it
later, when you are not so upset about it. -ausman
\_ In order to answer this question properly, the motd requires that
you tell the story behind this. Thank you.
\- i think the toughest thing for you to prove will be harm or
damage. if she just says you are an asshole or a "butthead
programmer" that probably wont do it. however, there are
legal claims in the area of privacy and harassment which is
a different matter from defamation. i do not know much about
this other than being aware of this option. that may be more
fruitful. depending on the WEEB site where this is appearing,
there may be non-legal approaches to this. --psb
\_ Yes, I forgot that you can sometimes get postings removed
if they violate an AUP at an ISP. This would just force her
to change venues, though. Sometimes this is enough.
to change ISPs, though. Sometimes this is enough.
\_ Sure, just piss her off some more.
\_ catfight!!
\_ Get over it. If the blog entries continue, they will sound more
and more shrill. Unless the accusations significantly affect your
reputation and you can prove it, it's not worth the time or effort.
That said, have someone, anonymously or not, let the person know
that naming you can be seen as defamation of character which is a
precursor to a possible libel suit. Fear is your pal.
\_ The libel suit is basically not happening. The rules for libel
suits are pretty much the same for blogs/the web as they are for
print. The problem is that proving *material* harm (are the things
she's saying costing you money due to lost job or business
opportunities?) is *very* hard to do. The other test you have to
pass is would an ordinary individual off the street believe the
things this person is saying are true. You can try pursuing this
legally but it is a) expensive and b) 80% likely to fail. Why not
just try talking to your ex-friend/gf/life-pal/whatever and saying
``Hey, knock it off you're being an immature git.'' in so many
words. -dans
\- as i said above, libel is probably not the way to go if it
is personal stuff [as opposed to "he has been fired mutliple
time for incompetence"] but there are other (legal) avenues.
if it is beyond "just talk to her" and contancting isp etc,
i think you are in "real lawyer" land. --psb
\_ I don't have any intention of making this legal, I'm just
trying to find ways to make her go away. The relationship
ended over a month ago and I've gone on with life (I just have
to monitor every so often to play damage control as she tries
to mess with my reputation in Berkeley while I'm out of state)\
but she's done anything but. I just need some way to get it
to mess with my reputation in Berkeley while I'm out of state)
but she's done anything but. I just need some way to get it
through her head that "its over, move the fuck on, stop trying
to destroy my life because you feel hurt and vindictive."
I've already pretty much cut off communication with her but
I'm getting sick of cleaning up all of the crap she's doing to
me back in Berkeley, this just being one very very small part
of the big picture. - jvarga
\_ guess the breakup was anything but amicable
\_ I tend to be fairly laissez faire about this thing.
Unless your ex is really vindicitve AND really socially
adept AND really evil she probably won't do much damage.
Your friends know you, and will be able to smell her
bullshit a mile a way. Unless of course all your friends
were mutual, and you're playing the divide up the friends
game in which case you might want to consider an emergency
trip to Berkeley just to play it safe. -dans
\_ When you play the divide up the friends game, the girl
usually wins. The bar for female's credibility is set
really low compared to yours.
\_ That's inconsistent with my experieince. Are you
really socially inept, or should I just be happy I
don't have friends like yours? -dans
\- you can try to push her over the edge so she becomes
non-functional.
\_ Be the bigger person and rise above it. If someone
asks you about it, you can answer, but I don't think you
need to defend yourself otherwise. Your friends won't need
it and others won't believe you anyway. Avoid going on
a retaliatory smear campaign, if you can help it.
\_ Dude, it's only been a month, give her more time to get
over it. She sounds like a bit off, but maybe you pushed
her. Next time, choose your gf more wisely.
\_ We have just been discussing Defamation in my Torts class. Based
on what we have covered, you might be able to make out a cause of
action for libel against her. I'll ask my Torts prof and get back
to you. Anyway, based on what I know:
Assuming that these statements aren't some sort of public concern
(you are stealing from the univ or some such) and you are not some
sort of public official/figure, you will fall into the "private/
private" category and should be able to get some money or and
injunction/retraction w/o needing to show actual harm (libel
can recover w/o actual damages in most cases). If you can show
knowing falsity or reckless disregard for the truth (NY Times
actual malice) you might even be able to get presumed and
punitive damages.
I think the tricky part will be to show that her statements were
capable of having a defamatory meaning. You will have to show
that the statements were more than hyperbole and that they are
proveably false (opinion is generally not actionable). The tough
part will be in proving that the statements were capable of
lowering your reputation or detering others from associating w/
you or exposed you to hatred, contempt or ridicule.
What might be better than actually going through w/ a suit is
to threaten her w/ one and maybe file a complaint to that end.
You can probably file the complaint yourself in at the ct house
and serve her via certified mail. That should really spook her.
\_ Shows what you know. You can't serve someone in state
simply with certified mail. -williamc
\_ iirc sec Cal Civ Proc Code Sec 415 allows in state
service by mail in lieu of personal service.
\_ and you recalled wrong. If you actually read the code
you still need to attempt to serve in person first and
THEN mail a copy. Look, buddy, I work at a law firm,
we have to go through a process server or through a
3rd party who's over 18 years of age. If the OP's
location is unknown you have to do a due diligence
search and show the court
before appearing. Serving papers in-state can get messy.
Also, you can't just leave the papers in a mailbox when
serving, you usually have to make best-efforts attempts
at contacting the OP someone who can give it to the OP
like a landlord or a relative.
-williamc
\_ You are absolutely right. Unfortunately, this doesn't
usually work with things like this because the OP can
just ignore it and after 20 days you'll have to server
them in person, which is why we never go through this
route and use process servers. -williamc
\_ Okay. I didn't know that. I just remember my civ
pro prof saying that in ca, you could use mail
for in state service but that some states don't
allow mail for in state service. thanks for
the info.
\_ Maybe we should deport you to Canada for saying something
williamc doesn't like....
\_ Well, let's just say that maybe we should deport people
who don't actually read the code carefully to Canada.
Hey, maybe you can get served through registered mail
within the province! -williamc
\_ what law school do you attend?
\_ Just curious...so she is posting things about you on the
Internet, and you are posting things about her on the MOTD...I
don't see much difference really...if she is reading these posts,
she would probably consider it slandering too.
\_ Now there is a stupider than average comment.
\_ It's only slander if it's not true. -tom
\_ what can we say about jvarga's claim that his ex is bitchy
and has made it her life's work to get back at him by lying
about him on her blog?
\_ Generally a statement has to be proveable true/false
to be actionable. The statement that she is 'bitchy' is
probably not actionable b/c it is basically an opinon,
or an insult. Similarly the statement that it is "her
life's work" is also not actionable b/c it is basically
hyperbole and no one would really think that she had
made it her life's work to get jvarga.
Now the statement that she is 'lying' might be actionable
if she is not lying. However, if we assume that jvarga
is telling the truth (probably a safe assumption), then
the statement is not actionable.
\_ actually, some states that still use common law will find
slander even when the statement is true IF the person who
made the statement acted out of ill will (assuming that
there are no 1st amd limits).
\_ Responding to a defamatory comment or asking for information
regarding such comments is considered 'self-help' and is in
generally not considered defamatory on its own.

3/24 Any good suggestions for a free place to host pictures for
other people to see? I'd like to put up 1024x768, at least.
\_ http://flickr.com
\_ any opinions on flickr? any space limit or time limit on images?
\_ you have a monthly upload limit unless you pay $40+/year.
\_ http://fuckyouanddie.com <- this is actually the name of a freesite
\_ imageshack.us

5/5 I understand why girls blog. They need to communicate and share
their feelings and all. But why do guys blog?
\_ Because they want to communicate about their job.
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/4/2/4235/13044
\_ Research tool, mostly. It's a way to keep links to things I
like in one place on the web, and it's as easy to maintain as a
bookmarks page.
\_ Comes in handy when you haven't seen a friend in a few years
and they want to know what's up. -bz
\_ You bought a house, Babob? And a DDR machine! Wow!

6/11 Do CSUAers blog? Why isn't there a csua blogging facility?
\_ this is something I'd like to see
\_ plenty of CSUA'ers blog.
\_ but not on csua?
\_ blogging is for the unemployed. why would you want to blog? it's
so 2002.
\_ I set up a blog in the hopes that i would write more, but all i
ever end up doing is posting links to, and random one line whining
about, stupid shit there.
\_ like most 'bloggers'.
\_ I only use my blog as a web-based repository for research
material and things I think I might use in stories.
\_ That's not a blog. It sounds useful, unlike a blog.
\_ Cf. http://diepunyhumans.com
\_ If that's what use it for, I think a wiki system may work
better than a blog.
\_ csua doesn't need to have a blogging facility. go install
movable type or something. it's easy enough.
\_ Where is it in the ports tree?